Tangier to Marrakech: Imperial Cities, Sahara & Kasbahs – 8 Days

This 8 day Morocco tour from Tangier crosses the country from the Strait of Gibraltar to Marrakech. With a private driver and licensed local guides, speaking English or any language you choose, you visit Casablanca and the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes and Fes, spend two nights in the Sahara near Merzouga and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs over the High Atlas.

It suits travellers who arrive in northern Morocco and want to see its cities, desert and mountains in one private journey. As with all Morocco Private Trip itineraries, the trip is yours alone, so pace, hotels and stops can be adjusted to suit you.

Day 1: Tangier to Casablanca & Rabat

Your private driver collects you in Tangier and takes the motorway south along the Atlantic coast to Casablanca. Here you visit the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean, browse the Habous Quarter and drive along the Corniche, with a seafood lunch by the sea.

In the afternoon you continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital, to see the Hassan Tower and the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Oudayas before checking in to a riad in the medina.

Meals: Not included · Overnight: Rabat

Day 2: Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis & Moulay Idriss to Fes

After a final look around Rabat you head inland to Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, to see the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum.

Next come the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its mosaics and triumphal arch, and a stop in the hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss. You arrive in Fes in the evening for two nights in a hotel or riad.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Fes

Day 3: Full-Day Guided Tour of Fes

Today is devoted to Fes, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities. You start at the gates of the Royal Palace, walk through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and stroll in the Jnan Sbil gardens.

In the medina of Fes el-Bali your guide leads you through the souks to the Chouara tannery, with its dye pits seen from the surrounding terraces, and to the city’s historic medersas, the Qur’anic schools that made Fes a centre of learning.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Fes

Day 4: Fes to the Sahara across the Middle Atlas

A long scenic drive takes you south from Fes into the Middle Atlas. You pass Ifrane, the Alpine-style mountain town, and the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live among the trees.

The road continues through Midelt and down towards the Sahara. You reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga and settle into your desert camp for the first of two nights.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Desert camp, Merzouga

Day 5: A Full Day in the Merzouga Desert

Spend a whole day in the desert. You visit a nomadic family to learn about life on the edge of the dunes and explore the village of Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music.

In the late afternoon you ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes to watch the sunset, then return to your Berber tent camp for a second night under the desert sky.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Desert camp, Merzouga

Day 6: Merzouga to the Todra Gorge & Dades Valley

Rise early for a sunrise camel ride over the dunes. After breakfast you drive west to the oasis town of Tinghir and walk into the Todra Gorge, where sheer rock walls close in around the river.

The road then follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley, where you spend the night in a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Dades Valley

Day 7: Dades Valley to Ouarzazate via Kalaat M’Gouna & Skoura

Today you travel past earthen kasbahs and palm groves. You stop in Kalaat M’Gouna, the town of roses, and explore the Valley of Birds before reaching the Skoura oasis and the restored Kasbah Amridil.

You arrive in Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, in time to relax at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Ouarzazate

Day 8: Ouarzazate to Marrakech over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass

Visit the film studios of Ouarzazate, where many international films have been shot, then drive into the High Atlas to the Berber village of Telouet for lunch.

The final stretch climbs over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and descends to Marrakech, where your driver drops you at your hotel or riad and the tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation

You stay seven nights: a riad in Rabat, two nights in a hotel or riad in Fes, two nights in a Berber tent camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and hotels in the Dades Valley and Ouarzazate. Every property is handpicked for its authentic character, and VAT and regional taxes are included.

Good to Know Before You Book

• Start and end: the tour starts in Tangier and ends with a drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech on Day 8.
• Guides: English-speaking licensed local guides are standard, and you can opt for a guide in any other language you prefer.
• Desert: two nights in a tent camp near Merzouga, with a sunset camel trek on Day 5 and a sunrise ride on Day 6.
• Meals on this tour: daily breakfast from Day 2 (7 in total). Lunches, dinners and drinks are paid locally.
• Not included on this tour: international flights or ferry tickets, lunches, dinners, drinks, tips, any optional activity and personal expenses.
• Driving: Days 1, 4 and 8 include long drives, broken up by visits and stops along the way.
• What to pack: comfortable shoes, a warm layer for desert nights and mountain passes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and a small bag for the nights in the camp.

Who Is This Tour For?

• Travellers arriving in Tangier by ferry or plane who want to finish their trip in Marrakech
• First-time visitors who want imperial cities, the Sahara and the High Atlas in one journey
• Couples, families and friends who want a private vehicle and a guide in their own language
• Anyone who wants two full nights in the desert rather than a quick overnight

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about this 8-day private tour. Payment, deposit and cancellation questions are answered in the booking FAQ on this page.

Route & Travel

Meals, Accommodation & Fees

Guides & Languages